Volunteer/Troop Leader Education

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Season! Show appreciation for volunteers you know and love by nominating them for formal recognitions! Submit nominations online by February 15. 
Youth Mental Health First Aid. Offered at a discounted rate for GSEMA volunteers, this training introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges for adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches participants how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. The course will be offered twice this winter and spring: at Camp Maude Eaton in Andover on February 22, and in Middleboro on April 25. Register.
Volunteer Resources Updates. Volunteer Resources and the Safety page of Volunteer    Essentials will be getting a redesign! We are restructuring Volunteer Resources to help you find the information you need faster. Travel and required training information will move to the Safety page, and will soon include recommended action items for volunteers. Please contact Danielle with feedback about the changes.

A few GSEMA Program Highlights

Adventures in Storytelling. Girls are invited to meet Kara LaReau, the award-winning author of the Infamous Ratsos series and Rise of ZomBert (coming July 2020), on February 22! The registration fee is $18 per girl, and includes a copy of Infamous Ratsos. Daisies and Brownies can register for the 3 PM–5 PM session, and Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can register for the 10 AM–2 PM session. Volunteer supervision is required.   
Winter Online Journeys. Seniors and Ambassadors can learn exciting new STEM skills through online Journeys in January and February! In the Think Like a Programmer Online Journey, girls will join together to learn coding and computer science skills. Registration is $25 per girl. 
Winter Vacation Camp. Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are invited to spend their winter breaks at Camp Wabasso! At Winter Vacation Camp, campers can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and more from February 17–21. Registration is $425/girl, and includes heated lodging, equipment rentals, lessons, meals, and transportation to/from Waltham, MA. This is a drop-off event.
Winter Vacation Adventures.  Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors can escape the winter blues by joining their Girl Scout peers for winter break at Camp Cedar Hill! At Winter Vacation Adventures, girls will make new friends, go on adventures, and participate in games, crafts, STEM experiments, and more. Groups will spend the majority of their time in indoor heated spaces, with occasional outdoor activities (weather permitting). New for 2020: busing is available and included in the registration fee. Registration is $60/girl, and financial aid is available.

North Reading Girl Scout Information

Did you know that there are several resources for information on North Reading Girl Scouts? Take a look:

Facebook Pages: 

    Parents and Guardians of North Reading Girl Scouts

    North Reading Girl Scout Leaders

Blog:

www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com

Lego & Robotics

A special thanks to Lisa Ayer and Denise Kung for organizing and running two STEM events on January 19th! The girls had an amazing time! Also, thank you to the troop leaders who volunteered to help during the events. 

Shoe Donations

Troop 71901 is still collecting new and gently used shoe donations to help fund their trip to Europe this June. There is a donation box at Flint Memorial Public Library. Please email kellys@majekelly.com or call/text Amy at 978-590-6717 with any questions.

Troop 71901 Younger Girl Scout Event TBD

Friday March 6^th is a professional development day in North Reading. Troop 71901 would like to host a drop-off event for younger Girl Scouts that day. They are still in the planning stages and would like to gauge interest so please ask your troop parents if they are available that day.

Calling all Girl Scouts interested in Lego and Robotics!!

Join us for a Lego Robotics event with SOGO Action, Jan 19th 2-4pm for an introduction to the world of Lego WeDO!
This FREE event is open to Juniors and Cadettes and is presented by SOGO Action, a new STEM maker space located in North Andover. Staff from SOGO Action will be present to lead the girls through the workshop.

This class is designed to provide Girls a simple introduction to robotics and mechanical design while allowing them to explore and develop STEM skills through project-based activities. Working in teams, they will use these skills to design and program moving models, all while enhancing their problem solving abilities. Please register here.

Girl Scout Lego Build Challenge

Calling all Girl Builders - Daisies, Brownies & Juniors!!!!

Join us for a Girl Scout Lego Build Challenge on Sunday January 19 where Girls test their building skills and have a BLAST with a multi-level team to problem solve various challenges and scenarios! Last year's challenge involved being marooned on a remote desert island and building a shelter, food, and an escape pod off the island. Great fun for Girls of all skill levels! Registration link here.

Troop 71901...

Friday March 6^th is a professional development day in North Reading. Troop 71901 would like to host a drop-off event for younger Girl Scouts that day. They are still in the planning stages and would like to gauge interest so please ask your troop parents if they are available that day.

Troop 71901 is still collecting new and gently used shoe donations to help fund their trip to Europe this June. There is a donation box at Flint Memorial Public Library. Please email kellys@majekelly.com with any questions.

Cookie Update

Hopefully the December cookie booths went well. There are still plenty of slots open for January and part of February. Contact Lisa Ayer (lisa.ayer7@gmail.com) if you'd like to schedule another booth sale.  There are no longer any gluten-free cookies available so please do not take orders for them. 

Disney On Ice presents Celebrate Memories

Will play the SNHU Arena in Manchester from January 9^th – 12^th and there will be a very special scout night on Friday, January 10^th at 7pm! Tickets are $20 and are being sold directly through the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains Council and the Daniel Webster Council ONLY. For more information on how to purchase your tickets, please click on the council you’re affiliated with below to be directed to the purchase page. If you are a registered scout and do not know which council you belong to, but would still like to purchase tickets, please call one of the councils below directly.

Each scout ticket comes with a commemorative patch being distributed through each council AND there will be a POST SHOW CLINIC just for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and any friends and family attending the show! To participate in the clinic, please stay in your seats following the show as a cast member will come out on to the ice to reveal tons of behind the scenes Magic!

Disney On Ice presents Celebrate Memories Info Page: https://www.disneyonice.com/celebrate-memories

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains Purchase Page: https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/en/events-repository/2020/disney_on_ice_presen.html

Daniel Webster Council Purchase Page: https://nhscouting.org/event/disney-on-ice/

Check out discounted ticket options for other shows and sporting events here: https://www.gsema.org/en/programs/program-list.html?q=&regions=choose&startdtRange=&enddtRange=&dateAdded=none&tags=girlscoutseasternmass%3Acategories%2Fmemberbenefits&_ga=2.256591499.1269275838.1568039782-842946843.1567530417

Lego Event - Coming Soon!

SAVE THE DATE - January 19th

Lisa Ayer and Denise Kung are organizing the Lego Challenge event for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes. More information coming soon!

Caroling Event - Big Success!

The caroling event was a big success with about 50 girls singing for the seniors at Care One!! A huge Thank You to Kristen Pemberton and Michele Reyen for organizing this great event. The oldies love the interaction with the kids.

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Season!

Show appreciation for volunteers you know and love by nominating them for formal recognition! Submit nominations online by February 15. 

 

Volunteer/Troop Leader Education Opportunities

Risk Management and Volunteer Safety Virtual Connections. Looking for additional guidance on how to ensure safe Girl Scouting experiences for your girls? Join us online on January 10 for Risk Management and Volunteer Safety Virtual Connections. You’ll be introduced to Safety Activity Checkpoints, Volunteer Essentials, and council policies and procedures for troop overnights, camping trips, and trips abroad. Register today. 

Wilderness First Aid. Our spring Wilderness First Aid course is now open for registration! Financial aid is available, and Girl Scout Ambassadors may also register to attend as part of earning their First Aid badges. Sign up now—space is limited!

Youth Mental Health First Aid. Offered at a discounted rate for GSEMA volunteers, this training introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges for adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches participants how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. The course will be offered twice this winter and spring: at Camp Maude Eaton in Andover on February 22, and in Middleboro on April 25. Register.

Program Highlights

Here are some new and interesting program highlights:

Adventures in Storytelling. Girls are invited to meet Kara LaReau, the award-winning author of the Infamous Ratsos series and Rise of ZomBert (coming July 2020), on February 22! The registration fee is $18 per girl, and includes a copy of Infamous Ratsos. Daisies and Brownies can register for the 3 PM–5 PM session, and Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can register for the 10 AM–2 PM session. Volunteer supervision is required.  

Cybersecurity Badge Day. Brownies and Juniors can earn the Cybersecurity Basics badge on January 19, by taking part in exciting workshops taught by professional women in the cybersecurity industry. Girls will learn about pending cybersecurity legislation, engage in exciting discussions and debates, and explore potential cybersecurity careers. The registration fee is $20 per girl, and includes a badge. Volunteer supervision is required. Register.

Winter Online Journeys. Seniors and Ambassadors can learn exciting new STEM skills through online Journeys in January and February! In the Think Like a Programmer Online Journey, girls will join together to learn coding and computer science skills. Registration is $25 per girl.

Winter Vacation Camp. Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are invited to spend their winter breaks at Camp Wabasso! At Winter Vacation Camp, campers can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and more from February 17–21. Registration is $425/girl, and includes heated lodging, equipment rentals, lessons, meals, and transportation to/from Waltham, MA. This is a drop-off event.

Winter Vacation Adventures.  Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors can escape the winter blues by joining their Girl Scout peers for winter break at Camp Cedar Hill! At Winter Vacation Adventures, girls will make new friends, go on adventures, and participate in games, crafts, STEM experiments, and more. Groups will spend the majority of their time in indoor heated spaces, with occasional outdoor activities (weather permitting). New for 2020: busing is available and included in the registration fee. Registration is $60/girl, and financial aid is available.

Getting your troop activities in the Transcript

If you'd like to let the North Reading community know about some of the great stuff you do with your troop, consider sending it to the North Reading Transcript. Whenever you do something community related, outdoors, STEM related - anything really, you can send a pic and a blurb. The girls love to see their picture in the paper + it promotes girl scouts in our town.

Here are some tips:

- send a ready to print article of 200 words or less 

- include who, what, when, where and why

- always send hi-res photographs with captions (always make sure you have permission from parent/ guardian to publish)

- add a quote if you can (but not necessary)

- send it to nrtranscript@rcn.com

- please reach out to Jo Gibson (joanneg@gmail.com) if you want help.

Resources - Did you know?

There are several information and event resources for North Reading Girl Scout and their Families such as:

Two Facebook pages: 

1. Parents and Guardians of North Reading Girl Scouts

2. North Reading Girl Scout Leaders

This Blog:

www.northreadinggirlscouts.blogspot.com

Calling for volunteers

We are hoping to run these great events in the new year if we get enough volunteers:

Girl Scout Race Car Challenge

Seeking volunteers to participate on a planning committee for this event likely to be held in the March/April time frame. Plan to meet maybe 3-4 times between Dec-March. Please contact Lisa Ayer at lisa.ayer7@gmail.com

World Thinking Day

If you, or someone you know (such as a troop parent) would like to share their heritage, we would love them to help at our World Thinking Day. They would be asked to share a craft, or game, or food, or music, or a brief presentation. They would probably only need to do a couple of these things and keep the girls occupied for about 15 or 20 minutes. Your troop is also welcome to represent a country as a group. It can just be a country they are interested in - even if they don't have ancestry there. Please reach out to your troop parents. They can email Jo Gibson (joanneg@gmail.com) with any questions.

 

Cookie Update

1. This week kicks off our booth sales! Still plenty of December slots available if you want to get a jump start before the holidays!

2. You can also start placing order for cookies through ABCSmartCookies.com. Make sure your order is in by Sunday 10pm to pick up that week.

3. Don't forget to add your scheduled booth sales into ABCSmartCookie so that you can use the new credit card and booth divider options.

4. January COBS deadline is Dec 12th. Don't miss it!

5. Please note that all cookie cupboards will be closed for the holidays December 22–January 2. Deadlines for planned cookie orders are Sundays at 10 PM throughout cookie season, and the final day for cookie-selling is March 31, 2020.

Caroling Event

Don't forget to get your forms in for caroling! This is a great, free event the girls love where they will make cards for the residents, sing carols, and have cookies and chocolate milk. This year it will be on Thursday December 19, 2019, 4pm- 5pm at Care one in Wilmington (750 Woburn St). Girls can wear their Christmas jammies/holiday attire/ hats etc. Forms can be dropped off to Kristen Pemberton: 9 Bishops Way, by December 10th. Flyer is attached to the Monday email.

 

Future Service Unit (SU) events

Our amazing service unit has several events planned for this scouting year including a Lego challenge, DIY Race car event, Archery/Canoe/S’mores and more! If you have an idea for an event or would like to be part of the planning committee for an event please reach out to Rebecca or Jo. Thank you for being part of North Reading Girl Scouts!   

Volunteer Recognitions

GSEMA is now accepting nominations for volunteer recognitions! Show appreciation for volunteers you know and love by nominating them for formal awards. Nominations are due by February 15. Plus, check out our tips for other fun and easy ways to say thank you to volunteers who are making the world a better place.

Seeking Girl Board Members

GSEMA invites Girl Scouts ages 14–17 to apply for a position on the GSEMA Board of Directors. Girl Board Members have the unique opportunity to collaborate with local professional leaders, strategize to better support Girl Scouting throughout eastern Massachusetts, and make a difference in their communities. To apply, girls should submit an application and two recommendations by 11:59 PM on January 23, 2020.

Represent GSEMA at the 2020 National Convention

Calling Girl Scouts age 14+ and adults! Apply to serve as a National Council Delegate for GSEMA at GSUSA’s 55th National Council Session and Convention. From October 21–25, 2020, in Orlando, Florida, you can be part of the action by representing GSEMA, meeting delegates from other councils, and casting your vote to help shape the future of Girl Scouting. Learn more about the role and read through the FAQ, then apply by December 5.

Program Highlights

STEM and Outdoor programs for Cadettes and Up- The days are getting shorter, but there’s still plenty of time for girls to learn new skills! They can develop green urban landscapes, problem-solve, and experiment with bridges, gliders, and moon rovers alongside female engineers from Raytheon at MathMovesU on December 8. They can also get outdoors to learn about knife safety, build an emergency shelter, cook delicious dishes using a variety of outdoor cooking methods, and more at Build Your Outdoor Skills sessions throughout December. Register your girl today.

Cookie Program

Get ready, get set, mark your calendars for the 2019–20 cookie program! Girl Scout Cookies fund adventures and help girls empower themselves through goal-setting and entrepreneurship—not to mention fun! Girls can begin selling cookies online on November 21, and in person on December 3. Troop Cookie Coordinators can get a prepared by submitting their required paperwork now. You can explore our online resources, and email us with your troop number if you need to be introduced to your Service Unit Cookie Mentor.

Fall Product - Final Count

From Denise Kung- “We had 13 troops participating and total sales just over $16,000. Incredible job by everyone! We had 11 troops sell over $750, which I believe means we earned a service unit bonus of $220. We did better in total sales and in troops breaking the $750 mark over last year.”

Frozen 2- Event Full

Daisies, Brownies and their families are invited to a private showing of Frozen 2 at Woburn Showcase Cinemas on Wednesday, November 27^th at 1pm. There are 40 seats available and the cost is $11 a ticket. Please venmo @Rebecca-Lowe-32, or drop off cash/check to 16 Pleasant Street. Registration will only be considered complete after both signupgenius registration and payment is received. ***This event filled in less than 24 hours so I’ve reached out to the theater to see if we have any options. If this event is a success I would love it to be annual with the possibility of moving it to a theater that is farther afield, but that can accommodate a larger group. Also, a separate film event for older girls is in the works.

Program Highlights

Check out some of the programs offered by Girl Scouts..
 1. Cyber Challenge - In GSEMA’s first ever Girl Scouts Cyber Challenge (October 19, from 8:30 AM–5 PM, at UMASS Lowell), Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors will work together to rescue a hacked moon colony. Girls will learn cryptography, forensics, social engineering, and ethics skills while empowering themselves and one another through STEM. This competition is a drop-off event; busing is available from Middleboro, Roxbury, and Waltham for $5 per girl. Registration is $10 per girl, and includes lunch, a shirt, and a patch.
2. Critter Camp - Girls can meet the furry friends that live at Camp Cedar Hill, make fierce and festive animal crafts, and take action as conservation superstars on Monday, November 11, from 9 AM–4 PM. This is a drop-off event; cost of registration is $50 per girl and includes a patch.
3. Challenge Accepted Overnight - During this exciting overnight experience on November 16–17, girls will gain confidence and learn team-building skills together on the low and high ropes courses at Camp Runels. This is a drop-off event; cost of registration is $60 per girl and includes a patch.
4. Journey Overnight - Seniors and Ambassadors are invited to work together to complete the Sow What (Senior) and Justice (Ambassador) Journeys in an action-filled overnight experience on November 2–3. Girls will explore their “food prints” and learn how everyday actions affect the environment as they prepare the next steps of their Take Action projects. This is a drop-off event; cost of registration is $55 per girl.
5. Journey Overnight - Cadettes are invited to “Think Like an Engineer” with their peers from all over eastern Massachusetts on November 9–10. Girls will complete the “discover” and “connect” steps of this exciting STEM journey, work together to find innovative solutions to engineering challenges, and take the first steps of preparing for their Take Action projects. This is a drop-off event; cost of registration is $35 per girl, and volunteer supervision is required.
6. Girl Scout Day at the MIT Museum - Girls are invited to the MIT Museum on November 2, for a day of hands-on, state-of-the-art engineering. Girls will use modern technologies including computer-aided design and laser cutting to engineer their own boats and take their design ideas to the next level. Cost of registration is $15/girl, and volunteer supervision is required.

The 2019 GSEMA Volunteer Conference

Will take place on Sunday, November 17th from 8am-5pm at the Burlington Marriott. The cost is $25 and lunch is included. Please join us for a fun day of workshops and networking. Register here  https://www.gsema.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-conference.html 

Contact Rebecca Lowe with any questions rebecca.lowe@gmail.com

Financial Literacy Badges

Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are eligible to earn two Financial Literacy badges through the Toyota Driving My Financial Future program. To receive these badges, complete the following steps by December 1:

• Complete all requirements for the two badges. For individual badge requirements, consult the Badge Explorer.
• Complete the badge request form. 
• Mail the badge request form and the appropriate evaluation form (for Juniors or for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors) to 111 East Grove St., Middleboro, MA, 02346, or scan and email all completed forms directly to jcollier@gsema.org.